Operatives of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have arrested three suspected pirates and confiscated an estimated N3.5 million worth of copyright infringing products during an antipiracy operation in Abak, Eket and Uyo areas of Akwa-Ibom State.

The antipiracy raid which was as a result of complaint by the Bible Society of Nigeria, was carried out on August 13, 2014 on six outlets dealing in suspected pirated books namely Prince of Peace Bookshop and Amadi Bookshop in Abak Local Government Area; De-Chitez Bookshop, De-best Bookshop and Fiaco Bookshop in Eket LGA and Heaven’s Door Bookshop in Uyo all within Akwa-Ibom State.

Three suspected pirates, Mr. Samuel Joseph Umoh, manager of Prince of Peace Bookshop in Abak and Mr. Elijah Amuda, the owner of Heaven’s Door Bible Bookshop in Uyo were arrested. The third person, a hawker of stationeries and Bibles was cautioned and released. However six copies of suspected pirated Bibles were recovered from him.

The impounded products included Educational Texts, Motivational Books and Bibles of about 3,500 copies. The raid was carried out by the Director of Enforcement, Austin Amodu backed by a contingent of officers of the Police Force, Akwa-Ibom state command and other NCC operatives.

The Director-General of NCC, Mr. Afam Ezekude, represented by Mr. Amodu stated during a post-raid briefing that the operation was an indication of the Commission's renewed commitment to its regulatory and enforcement mandate.

The DG’s representative indicated that the Commission was intensifying its antipiracy operations across the country in protection of genuine right owners and the copyright industries in Nigeria. He urged all stakeholders in the creative industry to fully support the ongoing copyright protection and antipiracy campaign.